I am in my early 50s and if all goes to plan will become a first time dad at the start of July. I do not live with the (also first time) mother and we are not in a relationship, although we get on very well. She loves her job, and I do not like mine. I have been doing it for 36 years, so when she offered to let me look after the baby for the first year, I was in all honesty well thrilled. The mother is only on 20K a year, and like me she has no savings, so (1) does this mean I can apply for Universal Credit? If so, (2) will they expect me to search for evening work for the times the mother will have the baby? Other questions: (3) Will the mother have to sign something to say I'm the main guardian? (4) If I get Universal Credit, am I entitled to anything else like child allowance and maintenance from the mother? Thanks in advance.
hi,
check here if your eligible for UC: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility
which one of you will be signing up for child benefit in your name/account?
if the child legally lives with you, then the non-resident parent is meant to pay child maintenance. i checked with CMS and they said that even if the resident parent (parent with main care of child) is working, or on any kind of benefits, it has no effect on child maintenance, and non-resident parent has to pay maintenance and not expecting any reductions in payments.
paying parent will only get reductions if the child stays overnight with them. the more nights they have the child, then the more their maintenance payment gets reduced. it would be much better if you and your partner could come to your own private financial arrangements. if you can not agree or crazy disputes happen, then you sign up with Child maintenance service.
to claim income support you must:
Not be working or working fewer than 16 hours a week
Have a child under five or be 29 or more weeks pregnant
Have income and savings below a certain amount
Thank you.
"which one of you will be signing up for child benefit in your name/account?" ...me.
"it would be much better if you and your partner could come to your own private financial arrangements" ...She's very pragmatic so pretty sure we can. She is on £20K, so how do we work it out from that? And do her payments affect Universal Credit?
hi,
you can make some suggestions e.g. £50 a week, and see what she says. whatever works for both. if not enough you can check this CMS calculator to work out what you lot should be paying:
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
no there is no link between child maintenance and UC. one parent can claim benefits and still receive child maintenance. benefit amount is not affected at all by child maintenance and vice versa, even if that parent works 16 hours a week to keep benefits. main thing they will assess is your income and any savings you have.
Thanks, your input has been invaluable.